Jet engine maker Rolls-Royce revealed details of its two next generation engine designs based on its Trent engine family, which are under advanced stage of development, offering better fuel efficiency, reliability and environmental performance. The engines could be ready within 10 years.

​Alenia Aermacchi has signed a contract with the Polish Defence Ministry for the supply eight M-346 advanced trainer jets worth $383 million (€280 million). The contract raises the number of M-346 aircraft ordered to date to 56.

The deal also include logistic support, a training programme for pilots and engineers and ground-based training system with dedicated classroom and educational materials.
After Italy, Singapore and Israel, Poland is the fourth customer to order the M-346, considered the most advanced/ lead-in fighter trainer aircraft specifically designed to train pilots to fly high-performance new generation military aircraft.

M-346 will replace some of the Polish Air Force’s aged fleet of PZL Mielec TS-11 Iskras. Poland announced the deal in December following a competition also involving the BAE Systems Hawk and the Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 trainer jets.

Bell Helicopters unveiled its new five-seat, short light single engined Bell 505 Jet Ranger X™ helicopter during the HELi-Expo 2014. Bell displayed three 505s in red, white and blue. The maiden flight is scheduled for late 2014.

Airbus will increase the production of its best-selling A320 single-aisle aircraft family to 46 a month in Q2 2016, from the current rate 42. The new higher production rate will be achieved gradually, with an intermediate step at 44 aircraft per month in Q1 2016.

Airbus has steadily increased A320 Family production, from rate 36 at the end of 2010 to rate 38 in August 2011, then up to rate 40 in Q1 2012 to reach 42 per month in Q4 of the same year.

With over 10,200 Airbus single aisle aircraft sold and more than 5,900 delivered to nearly 400 customers and operators, the A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle aircraft family.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $2.4 billion contract for 16 additional P-8A aircrafts bolstering its maritime patrol capabilities, marking the transition to full rate production.The order will take the total fleet to 53.

AgustaWestland has completed flight envelope expansion trials of its TiltRotor AW609 aircraft in December 2013, and has progressed to certification testing phase. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) certification is targeted in 2017.
The envelope expansion phase tested every aspect of the aircraft’s capabilities and has validated the flight envelope including the 25,000 feet service ceiling with a pressurised cabin and a maximum cruise speed of 275 knots, both of which were performed at the aircrafts maximum weight. The first two test aircrafts have now together clocked almost 1,000 flight test hours.
The extensive flight testing also confirmed the benefit of a number of aerodynamic and performance improvement modifications developed by AgustaWestland since program acquisition, that deliver a 10% drag reduction, as well as the STOL capabilities of the AW609, the latter enabling an increased take-off weight.
The third prototype, now being assembled at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate facility, will join the flight test program in 2014 in support of this certification flight testing. A fourth prototype will join the certification program at a later date to allow the new avionics suite to be flight tested, and enable type certification.
Other trials completed with the AW609 TiltRotor in 2013 included slope landings, run-on landings, aeroelastic stability testing and high altitude stability testing.
Northrop Grumman will provide flight-critical inertial instruments on the AW609.

Indian Army version of the Akash surface to air missile (SAM) successfully undergone a series of flight trials in various engagement modes, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, clearing its way for induction.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Lockheed Martin photo by Michael D. Jackson.

Two F-35B aircraft fly in close formation while in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode for the first time last week. Pilots Peter Wilson and Dan Levin flew the test jets in STOVL mode, also known as Mode 4, with the F-35B LiftFan engaged and engine rotated downward. The mission measured the effects the aircraft had on each other while in Mode 4 to ensure they can operate in formation safely in an operational environment. The U.S. Marine Corps plans to declare Initial Operating Capability with the F-35B next year.The F-35B will replace the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II fighter aircrafts currently in service with the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It will also replace GR7, GR9 and Sea Harrier aircraft deployed in the fleet of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Japanese Skymark Airlines's first A380 Jumo completed its structural assembly, moving to the next station at the Final Assembly Line in Toulouse. At the “station 30” Skymark,s A380 will undergo general tests on electric and hydraulic systems, mobile parts, landing gears and fuel tanks. Also, the aircraft’s four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines will be mounted.

Skymark Airlines, Japan’s third largest and fast growing airline, has placed six firm A380 orders and will become the first Japanese A380 operator.

Rolls-Royce has been awarded a US$90.1 million production contract for engines to power MV-22 aircraft operated by the US Marine Corps.The contract, a modification of a prior agreement, includes a total of 40 Rolls-Royce AE 1107C engines manufactured in Indianapolis, Indiana. The contract was awarded through the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland.

Robust and combat-proven, the Rolls-Royce AE 1107C turboshaft is part of the AE product family, which has over 5,800 engines in service and nearly 60 million flight hours. The AE 1107 exclusively powers the growing V-22 fleet for the US Marine Corps and Air Force.

Rolls-Royce has developed engine modifications to deliver 17 percent additional power to the AE 1107C. These power enhancements, along with various reliability improvements, were developed at Rolls-Royce expense and are being implemented under the MissionCare support contract. Combined, the improvements have increased "hot and high" performance while significantly increasing time on wing.

In addition to a dedicated team of Field Service Representatives, Rolls-Royce also supports the AE 1107C engine fleet through the Defense Operations Center in Indianapolis, providing 24/7 real-time engineering support for V-22 operators.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

An Ecuadorian Air Force's Indian built HAL Dhruv helicopter assigned for presidential transport crashed on Friday, killing 3 crews and seriously injuring another, in the southern Ecuador, Chimborazo region. The three military personels died are presidential pilot Captain Hector Caicedo Londoño, Lieutenant Sergeant Jorge Flores and Cristian Suarez Benavides Unda.

The other pilot Captain Fabian Narvaez Pazos survived the crash with serious injuries. This is the second crash of Ecuadorian Dhruv, the first ocurred in Oct 2009, during a military flypast, with the both pilots walking away from crashed helicopter. The crash was later attributed to pilot error.

HAL supplied the Ecuador with 7 Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) under a $ 51 million contract signed in 2007. The export of Dhruv to Ecuador was seen as a major breakthrough for India in the area of defence export as the deal was clinched after fierce bidding that also involved Israeli firm Elbit, Eurocopter and Russia's Kazan. Ecuador has initiated investigation to determine the causes of crash.

More than 100s of ALH Dhruvs are operated by Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Border Security Force and state governments since 2002.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Australian government has approved the acquisition of eight Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircrafts costing approximately $4 billion, including support facilities.
The acquisition will boost Australia’s ability to monitor its maritime interests and patrol over 2.5 million square kilometres of maritime zones equating nearly 4 per cent of the world’s oceans.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Orbital Sciences Corporation has signed a commercial launch contract with Skybox Imaging to carry six 120 kg high-resolution imaging and video-capable satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO) in late 2015 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
The Skybox spacecraft will be launched aboard the Minotaur-C space launch vehicle, which are converted U.S. Peacekeeper and Minuteman ballistic missiles.
The Minotaur-C will utilize its SkySat satellite dispenser, currently in design by the Minotaur team. The satellites each expected to last for more than six years, will be placed into a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit offering images with a ground resolution better than 80 centimeters.

Rolls-Royce has completed assembly and ground testing of the first enhanced T56 engine called the T56 Series 3.5 engine enhancement, demonstrating over 13 per cent fuel burn reduction.
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) WP-3D "Hurricane Hunters", a variant of Lockheed Martin P-3C aircraft that will be the first aircraft to fly the Rolls-Royce T56 engine enhancement.

While C-130 flight tests and engine ground tests have shown significant improvement over requirements, the Series 3.5 package requirements call for a 7.9 per cent fuel reduction.
Rolls-Royce and the US Air Force (USAF) have also started planning discussions for the introduction of the Series 3.5 into its fleet of C-130s.

Initial funding of $15.7 million for the engine enhancement package was approved by Congress last month, launching the technology insertion for the USAF, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard fleets.

In addition to reduced fuel consumption, the enhancement package allows T56 engines to operate at significantly lower turbine temperatures, extending parts life and improving reliability by 22 percent.
A USAF study concluded this enhancement would save the service $2 billion and extend the life of the fleet for decades.

The P-3 Series 3.5 flight test and qualification program, supported by Lockheed Martin, is planned to be completed later this year. The first fully equipped NOAA WP-3D aircraft with Series 3.5 enhancements is expected to enter service beginning in early 2015.

The engine enhancement package is in the final stages of completing all requirements for US Air Force qualification on the C-130 and recently received FAA certification for the commercial version of the T56 engine.

Deliveries of the new engine enhancement packages to the Air Force are expected to begin in 2016.
The T56 Series 3.5 engine enhancement can be installed as part of a conventional engine overhaul, and does not require any aircraft or engine control system modifications.

In addition to USAF and NOAA, international operators of C-130 and P-3 aircraft are also considering incorporating the T56 engine enhancement into their fleets.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Indian Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh disclosed in Rajya Sabha that the delayed Intermediate Jet Trainer HJT-36 Sitara aircraft being developed by HALis expected to achieve Final Operation Clearance (FOC) by December 2014.
The aircraft missed its Intial Operational Clearance (IOC) in Decemeber 2013. IOC is now expected in the coming months.

Royal Air Force's world renowned Red Arrows aerial display team unveiled its new tail fin design marking their 50th display season.

The new design was unveiled at the team’s home base, RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
Only the tailfin livery has been changed, keeping their iconic red and white fuselage same.

The new scheme will be flown throughout the team’s 2014 display season, which begins at the end of May and runs until September.
Designed by the Air Media Centre at RAF High Wycombe,

In the shape of a Union flag, the tailfin design features outlines of both aircraft types as a tribute to the Team's heritage and current operations.

The Team originally flew Folland Gnat jets but switched to the BAE Systems Hawk trainer jet in 1980s.

Since that first performance in May 1965, millions of people all around the world have been thrilled by the Red Arrows’ trademark precision flying, impressive formations, close-passes and dynamic loops and rolls.

The Team consist of nine display pilots, all of whom are from frontline squadrons and are experienced pilots previously operating the Tornado or the Typhoon multi-role combat aircrafts.
There is 120 support staff in the Red Arrows, including operations and flight planners, engineering technicians, photographers etc.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

The Indo-Russian joint venture, BrahMos unveiled its plan to develop a new variant of its successful BrahMos cruise missile with advanced technologies under the Vision 2050 Programme.
The missile with advanced technology would be smaller in size and weight, with better capability. The miniaturized version would have the same range of 290 km, but will be shorter by three metres as compared to the present missile.
The missile will have a length of 6 meters and diameter of 0.5 meter with speed of Mach 3.5.

Boeing announced the selection of its Everett, Wash., site as the location for a new composite wing center for the 777X program. The new composite wing center will be located north of theEverett factory and will sustain thousands.
The new facility will support fabrication of the 777X composite wings and will be approximately 1 million square feet. Construction on the new facility is scheduled to begin later this year. Boeing selected the Everett site for 777X final assembly following the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 751 approval of an eight-year contract extension earlier this year. As part of the contract extension, the company agreed to fabricate the parts for, and assemble, the 777X composite wings in the Puget Sound region.
The 777X will be formally named at a later date. Design of the 777X is underway. Production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020.
Two models comprise the 777X family – the 777-8X, with approximately 350 seats and a range capability of more than 9,300 nautical miles; and the 777-9X, with approximately 400 seats and a range of more than 8,200 nautical miles.
The 777-8X competes directly with the Airbus A350-1000 while the 777-9X is in a class by itself, serving a market segment that no other airplane can.
Boeing launched the 777X program at the 2013 Dubai Airshow in Nov, with a record commitments for 259 airplanes from four customers.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC
During a special ceremony at the US Chamber of Commerce on 11 Feb, French Safran and U.S. General Electric (GE) marked the signing of the historic partnership agreement that formed CFM International in 1974.
The event launched a nearly year-long celebration that will culminate on September 24, 2014 – the 40th anniversary of the world’s most successful international joint venture. In 2008, both companies renewed the partnership agreement till 2040.
The original framework agreement was signed in 1974, creating CFM International as a 50/50 joint venture between the two aircraft engine manufacturers. The two companies already had a co-production agreement on GE’s CF6 turbofan engine family since 1968.
The agreement called for two parent companies to share everything equally, from design and development to production and support and marketing and sales. Final engine assembly is performed both at GE facilities in the United States and at Snecma (Safran) facilities in France.
The first CFM-powered aircraft, a DC-8 Super 70, entered commercial service on April 24, 1982 with Delta Air Lines.
Today, CFM built engines logs one million engine hours every nine days. On average, a CFM56-powered aircraft takes off every two seconds.
More than 26,000 CFM56 engines powering 30 different aircrafts have been delivered to date to more than 530 operators. The CFM56 fleet in service has logged 700 million flight hours in service powering more than 11,000 commercial and military aircraft worldwide as the most reliable engines in the air.
The advanced new LEAP engine, currently undergoing certification testing, has achieved broad-based market acceptance, with 6,000 engines ordered to date. The engine is delivering on the aggressive goals CFM set for it when the program was launched in 2008: a 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency; double-digit improvements in noise and emissions; and the lowest overall cost of ownership in the industry. CFM is on track for engine certification for the U.S. FAA and European EASA in 2016 and entry into airline service in 2016.

Rolls-Royce began final assembly of the first production Trent XWB, the world's most efficient jet engine, that will power the first Airbus A350 XWB into commercial service with Qatar Airways later in 2014.

India's first interplanetary probe, Mars Orbiter Spacecraft Mangalyan successfully completed 100 days in space on February 12, 2014, in its voyage to planet Mars. The probe, was launched by PSLV-C25 launch vehicle on November 5, 2013 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Antrix has signed Launch Services Agreement with DMC International Imaging (DMCii), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) UK, for launch of three DMC-3 Earth Observation Satellites being built by SSTL, on-board ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered the first “Crew Module Structural Assembly” for the Indian Human Spaceflight Program to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram of ISRO in Bangalore, recently.
The first Crew Module will be further equipped with systems necessary for navigation, guidance, Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), Crew Escape System by ISRO for experimentation in the forthcoming maiden flight test of GSLV-MK3 launcher.
Earlier also HAL has contributed in the India’s space programmes such as “ISRO’s Mars Mission” by providing Satellite Structure, Propellant Tankages and supplied thirteen types of riveted structural assemblies, seven types of welded propellant tankages which include the cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks and cryogenic stage structures for GSLV D5.
GSLV-MkIII is a three stage heavy lift launch vehicle, designed for launching four tonne class of communication satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
It has three propulsion stages and is 42.4 m tall with a lift-off weight of 630 tonnes. Two identical large solid strap-on boosters (S200) with 200 tonnes of solid propellant are strapped on either side of the core stage (L110) with 110 tonnes of liquid propellant loading. The upper stage is the cryogenic stage (C25) with 27 tonnes propellant loading.
Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) payload fairing measures 5 m in diameter which can accommodate a payload volume of 100 cu m.
GSLV Mk3 will end India's reliance on European Ariane 5 launcher for heavy communication satellites launches weighing more than 2.5 tonnes.

Pratt & Whitney's new generation PurePower engine family has completed more than 7,600 hours and 17,000 cycles of full engine testing, including 850 hours of flight time, company announced during the Singapore Airshow.
P&W said its engine testing has validated the fuel efficiency target of up to 16 percent for the Geared Turbofan™ engine architecture and has validated other predicted engine characteristics like low noise levels and turbine temperatures that are essential to delivering a reduction in engine operating cost. P&W has tested 31 Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines since initiating testing in September 2010.
P&W Pure Power engine is a high-bypass geared turbofan engine family, features a gear system in between the engine fan and the low pressure compressor allowing each of the modules to operate at their optimum speeds. This enables the fan to rotate slower and while the low pressure compressor and turbine operate at a high speed, increasing engine efficiency and delivering significantly lower fuel consumption, emissions and noise. This also reduces engine stages and parts for lower weight and reduced maintenance costs.
The PurePower PW1100G-JM engine, which will power the Airbus A320neo aircraft, continues rigorous testing in preparation for the aircraft's first flight. The PW1500G engine for Bombardier's CSeries airplane is powering two CSeries aircraft as it prepares to enter into service. Pratt & Whitney continues to work closely with other aircraft manufactuers like Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, Irkut, and Embraer to finalize engine designs and complete engine certification programs to meet their airplane program milestones. Pratt & Whitney has received orders, including options, for more than 5,000 PurePower Geared Turbofan engines from more than 50 airline and lessor customers.

Rolls-Royce has signed a long-term agreement with Lockheed Martin worth up to US$1 billion to deliver approximately 600 engines to power future C-130J Super Hercules aircrafts delivered from 2014 to 2018.
The agreement secures the Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprop as the engine of choice for all variants of the C-130J to 2025.

GE is continuing its testing on the high pressure compressor (HPC) module for the GE9X engine that will power Boeing's 777X aircraft. The tests began in September at a GE Oil & Gas testing facility in Massa, Italy, and the module has accumulated close to 300 hours of testing today.

photo: Boeing

Boeing delivered Kuwait's first C-17 Globemaster III airlifter, an aircraft that will expand the Kuwait Air Force's capabilities in military and civilian operations, including humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
The 260th C-17 features an custom paint design distinguishing it from the other C-17 operators.
In operation since 1991, the C-17 is a large, versatile strategic military transport aircraft able to carry heavy, oversize loads long distances and land on rough and unprepared surfaces.
The C-17 is powered by four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines. It has been used in humanitarian and military missions around the world and recently surpassed 2.6 million flight hours.
Boeing will support Kuwait's C-17 fleet through the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program, a proven multinational Performance-Based Logistics program.
Boeing has delivered 260 C-17s, including 223 to the U.S. Air Force, and a total of 37 to Kuwait, Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.
Boeing will complete production of the C-17 and close the C-17 final assembly facility in Long Beach, California in 2015 due to lack of orders.

​Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Alenia Aermacchi will complete the delivery of last of the 12 M-346 new generation advanced trainers to the Royal Singapore Air Force in March 2014.
Currently, a total of 10 aircraft have been delivered along with the ground based training system and the associated M-346 initial logistics support package.

STRATFORD, Connecticut
On Jan 24, Helicopter maker Sikorsky powered up the engines and spun the rotor head of the first prototype CH-53K heavy lift helicopter, designated the Ground Test Vehicle (GTV).

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) recently completed a series of successful trials of its LAHAT anti tank guided missiles(ATGM) firing from helicopters.
The trial comprised of 8 successful launches, carried out at ranges of up to 10 km, and altitudes ranging from 300 to 6,000 feet, both from moving as well as hovering helicopter - to fixed and moving targets. These scenarios included highly realistic operational scenarios, including a direct hit scored from 10 km, using the helicopter's observation capability with laser designation by a ground force.
LAHAT (Laser Homing Attack) is an precision lightweight missile anti tank missile, homing-in on a laser spot. It has a ground launch range of 8 km (10 km from helicopters) and can carry specific mission-customized warheads.

British pilot ejection seat manufacturer Martin Baker said it has learned lessons and took steps to prevent reccurence of circumstances that led to a fatal accidential ejection of a Royal Air Force pilot, following the investigation report, which found negligence from Martin Baker.